DIA has pulled the plug on its effort to “enhance” the planned commuter-rail bridge over Peña Boulevard with the design of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Last summer, Calatrava and Denver International Airport Manager Kim Day unveiled a conceptual design for the bridge, which will carry the airport train over Peña just east of its junction with E-470.

At that time, Day and Calatrava said the bridge would serve as a “signature,” iconic gateway to the airport.

Today, Day said the airport’s cost for the portion of the bridge it wanted to build would have been about $22 million, yet she said RTD had offered to contribute only $1.4 million to that construction cost.

Officials of the Regional Transportation District, its contractor for the airport train project, and DIA have been assessing and refining costs of the commuter-rail bridge over Peña for more than a year.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.